Picked up my Z8 today and I "dilligently" went through the menu and set it up mostly how I had my Z9 set up (Z9 wasn't with me at the time), AF settings, Lossless Compressed RAW, Copyright, Display etc, etc. Except, just like I did with my Z9, idiot me forgot to set the "Image quality" section to RAW. I don't know if any remember, this is exactly what I forgot to do with my Z9 with my first images that I posted here on FM. As I never alter my camera off RAW I therefore never use the "Image Quality" selection, once I had selected Compressed RAW, I mistakenly just thought it was in RAW.
However, I have to say that the jpegs are simply gorgeous any way. However, I still put them through Capture One Pro and did a few tweaks and some have Topaz noise reduction. Not as good as a RAW image, but not too bad considering.
Anyway, I went to the zoo to get shots as that way I am ensured of subject matter to give the Z8 a decent trial. All I can say is, it is simply a Z9 in a smaller, lighter body as everything seems to work just like a Z9 sans grip section. I shot about 250 images and treating it just I do my Z9, the battery went down 1 bar. So, it should get decent battery life. Lugging around 500gms less is certainly nicer. However, even though the Z8 is good with long lenses, the Z9 is a tad better.
I don't know if any remember, this is exactly what I forgot to do with my Z9 with my first images that I posted here on FM. As I never alter my camera off RAW I therefore never use the "Image Quality" selection, once I had selected Compressed RAW, I mistakenly just thought it was in RAW. 
However, I still put them through Capture One Pro and did a few tweaks and some have Topaz noise reduction. Not as good as a RAW image, but not too bad considering. 
